15 Local Jr. High Rodeo Contestants Qualify for Nationals

The culmination of a year’s worth of work for Jr. High Rodeo contestants all comes together at the State Rodeo finals. The California High School Rodeo Association divides rodeo participants into Jr. High and High School groups. The Jr. High rodeo contestants compete against other California Jr. High rodeo participants for a spot on California’s team which traveled to Nationals the latter part of June.

Members of our SLO County Jr. High rodeo community were among the 25 contestants which California High School Rodeo Association, District 7 (Ventura-San Luis Obispo Counties), sent to the State Finals held in Red Bluff, California May 16-19, 2018. All 25 rodeo stars put forth a gallant effort; each with his or her eye on a spot on California’s Team going to Nationals, June 24 -30, 2018 in Huron, South Dakota.

Rodeo Stars Tell Us About Their Nationals Experience

Delaney and Katelyn Browder 5th in the Team Roping World Standings for the National Jr High Finals Rodeo, Huron, South Dakota.Photo credit: Jennifer Browder

Katelyn Browder (team roping & breakaway) and her triplet sister, Delany Browder (team roping) competed in team roping together. When asked to share about her experience Katelyn replied, “My biggest challenge in getting to nationals was not being able to compete on the horse I had qualified with. Days before we left, my good heel horse was injured and I couldn’t take him. Instead, I took a different horse that I never even rode before. It took a lot of last-minute practice to get together with him and was grateful to place 5th in the team roping average with my sister, Delaney.”

“I enjoyed team roping this year with my triplet sister, Katelyn. Since my Dad is our coach, practicing and attending rodeos is a fun family affair. We made special family memories with our trip to the Nationals in South Dakota,” added Delaney.

California District 7 Jr. High Rodeo Contestants Finish Strong

At the State Finals, rodeo contestants competed in two full Go-Rounds and a Finals Go-Round where the top 15 contestants competed. Out of the 25 contestants District 7 sent to State Finals, 21 competed in the Short Go-Round, or the Finals, with 19 of those competitors placing in the top ten of their events.

15 Jr. High Rodeo Stars of CHSRA District 7 Were National Qualifiers

District 7 has 15 National Qualifiers with four who qualified in two separate events.

First Go Round winners include:

Murt Stewart who split 1/2 in the Boys Goat Tying with a time of 9.86;

Grace Perez in Girls Goat Tying with an 8.54;

Makenna Machado in Barrel Racing with a 17.960;

Delaney & Katelyn Browder in Team Roping with a time of 13.53.

Makenna Machado of Santa Maria, competing in Barrel Racing at the National Jr High Finals Rodeo in Huron, South Dakota. Makenna placed 9th in the First Go Round of the NJHFR. She is member of California High School Rodeo, District 7.